Method and apparatus for feeding a cigarette tray transporting vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for feeding a cigarette tray transporting vehicle using a feeding apparatus comprising means for coupling cigarette tray transporting vehicle to said feeding apparatus and releasing the same from said feeding apparatus is provided. With this method, it is possible to automatically guide and set a succeeding cigarette tray transporting vehicle to the feeding apparatus while a preceding cigarette tray transporting vehicle is set to the feeding apparatus, thereby reducing the amount of labor required.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for loading and unloading cigarette trays with cigarettes from a cigarette manufacturing machine comprising: a. a plurality of cigarette tray transporting vehicle means for carrying a plurality of said cigarette trays, said vehicle means including a plurality of feed pins, each feed pin corresponding to one of said plurality of cigarette trays and drive means for moving said vehicle means;   b. a feeding means for feeding said cigarette trays between said vehicle means and said cigarette manufacturing machine, said feeding means including feed pawl means for engaging said feed pins and moving said vehicle means relative to said manufacturing machine, and pusher means for transferring said cigarette trays between said vehicle means and said cigarette machine;   c. first sensor means for sensing the transfer of a full cigarette tray from said machine to said vehicle means and for operating said feed pawl means to engage one of said feed pins and move said feed pin a distance equal to the distance between adjacent feed pins, whereby said vehicle means is moved said distance;   d. second sensor means for sensing the movement of said feed pawl means and for operating said pusher means, thereby transferring a succeeding cigarette tray from said vehicle means to said cigarette machine; and   e. third sensor means for sensing the filling of said succeeding cigarette tray and for operating said pusher, thereby transferring said full succeeding cigarette tray from said cigarette machine back to said vehicle means, whereby all of said plurality of cigarette trays on one of said vehicle means are successively automatically filled, said first, second and third sensor means each including a cam and a corresponding cam operated switch;   the improvement comprising:   f. fourth sensor means for sensing one of said vehicle means at a first predetermined position and for operating the drive means of the succeeding vehicle means to move said succeeding vehicle means to a second predetermined position;   g. fifth sensor means for sensing the arrival of said succeeding vehicle means at said second predetermined position and for deenergizing said drive means thereof; and   h. sixth sensor means for sensing when the last cigarette tray of said one vehicle means is full and for energizing said drive means thereof, whereby said one vehicle means moves away from said feeding means, said fourth, fifth and sixth sensor means including magnetic sensors.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including seventh sensor means for sensing the arrival of said succeeding vehicle means at a third predetermined position and for operating said feed pawl means for engaging the first feed pin of said succeeding vehicle means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first sensor means includes a sensor for sensing the arrival of one of said vehicle means at said first predetermined position and transmitter means responsive to said sensor for energizing the drive means of said succeeding vehicle means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said sixth sensor means includes a sensor for sensing when the last cigarette tray of said one vehicle means is returned thereto and transmitter means for energizing said drive means thereof. 
     
     
       5. In a method for loading and unloading cigarette trays with cigarettes from a cigarette manufacturing machine using a plurality of cigarette tray transporting vehicle means for carrying a plurality of said cigarette trays, said vehicle means including a plurality of feed pins, each feed pin corresponding to one of said plurality of cigarette trays; and a feeding means for feeding said cigarette trays between said vehicle means and said cigarette manufacturing machine, said feeding means including feed pawl means for engaging said feed pins and moving said vehicle means relative to said feeding means, comprising the steps of: a. sensing the transfer of a full cigarette from said machine to said vehicle means and generating a first signal in response thereto;   b. moving said feed pawl means to engage one of said feed pins in response to said first signal, thereby moving said feed pin a distance equal to the distance between adjacent feed pins, whereby said vehicle means is moved said distance;   c. sensing the movement of said feed pawl means and generating a second signal in response thereto;   d. transferring a succeeding cigarette tray from said vehicle means to said cigarette machine in response to said second signal;   e. sensing the filling of said succeeding cigarette tray and generating a third signal in response thereto;   f. transferring said full succeeding cigarette tray from said cigarette machine back to said vehicle means in response to said third signal, whereby all of said cigarette trays on one of said vehicle means are successively automatically filled;   the improvement comprising the steps of:   g. sensing when one of said vehicle means is at a first predetermined position and generating a fourth signal in response thereto;   h. moving said succeeding vehicle means to a second predetermined position in response to said fourth signal;   i. sensing the arrival of said succeeding vehicle means at said second predetermined position and generating a fifth signal in response thereto;   j. deenergizing the drive means of said succeeding vehicle at a third predetermined position in response to said fifth signal;   k. sensing when the last cigarette tray of said one vehicle means is filled and generating a sixth signal in response thereto; and   l. moving said one vehicle means away from said feeding means in response to said seventh signal, whereby succeeding vehicle means are coupled to said feeding means, the cigarette trays thereon filled with cigarettes and then released from said feeding means.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of: a. sensing the arrival of said succeeding vehicle means at said third predetermined position and generating a seventh signal in response thereto; and   b. operating said feed pawl means for engaging the first feed pin of said succeeding vehicle means in response to said seventh signal.